This photo and postcard were given to me by my uncle Bill, who kept it along with my Grandfather’s bush hat. I’m not sure how long he was in Ceylon, Burma. I do recall two stories my father told me about Grandad at that time.
He once almost drowned having taken a bet that he could swim under the troop ship that was moored in the dock having just arrived in Burma. I think the other troops where so impressed that he even tried to do it that they paid him anyway.
The second was that he went missing with some others in the jungle in Burma for a number of weeks and was declared MIA presumed dead. I’m not sure what had gone on but the family were notified of his loss. However, one afternoon Grandad arrived at the cottage in Nottingham where my Gran, Elizabeth, along with my Dad, Jack, Uncle Bill and Aunt June had been evacuated to. They had sent him home on leave for a week to see his family and to put thing straight. You can only imagine the utter surprise of everyone. Apparently, my Gran refused to speak to him for at least two days!
Grandad was a big man with an even bigger heart. Bless.
